A 76-year-old man was shot multiple times and robbed of his firearm after dropping off his grandson outside Acacia Primary School in Trenance Park, Verulam, on Friday.
First responders, Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), said the pensioner had been stationary at the time of the incident. RUSA spokesperson, Prem Balram, said their operations centre received several calls from the public reporting shots fired outside the school. He said all available officers were dispatched, however, while on route a red Toyota Corolla was spotted parked on the corner of Trenance and Cottonwood Drive. The victim, Nsinyane Qwabe, was found in the vehicle bleeding profusely. “Paramedics examined the elderly male and confirmed that he sustained fatal injuries during the shooting. He sustained five gunshot wounds and his 9mm firearm was missing from his holster.”
According to the victim’s family, the deceased generated an income by transporting scholars. Balram said, on 17 September, Qwabe was dropping off his 16-year-old grandson at a tuck shop near where the shooting occurred. “Minutes later his grandson heard the gunshots and ran up to the school. He noticed his grandfather slumped in his vehicle. The teenager moved him over to the passenger seat and attempted to kick-start the vehicle due to it not having a self-start system. The vehicle stalled at the intersection where it was found by responding officers.” According to witnesses, a man dressed in a blue t-shirt approached the victim’s car and opened fire on the driver before stealing his firearm. “The suspect then fled on foot. Five 9mm spent cartridges were recovered,” Balram added. Officers conducted an aerial search for the gunman, however, no arrests were made.
